The Washington Supreme Court disbarred Dean Adams, Langley’s former public defender, on Oct. 26 for forging court documents.

The court’s order of disbarment takes effect Thursday.

Judy Berrett, spokeswoman for the Washington State Bar Association, said Adams must also pay more than $6,880 in restitution to his victims. His victims will also be able to submit claims to the lawyers’ victim protection fund, and Adams is required to reimburse the fund if any claims are paid out.

Earlier this year, Adams was sentenced to several months of jail time for forging court documents.

The Oak Harbor attorney provided public defense services for the city of Langley, Oak Harbor and other local communities.

Adams created a false decree of adoption and also forged Island County Judge Vickie Churchill’s signature and sent it to a client, according to a police report.

The court administrator discovered the forgery after Adams’ client tried to get a copy of the paperwork.

Adams wrote a letter to the court manager admitting that he had misled his client and made up the decree of adoption, according to court records.

Adams also forged Judge Alan Hancock’s signature on a marriage dissolution decree, which was never filed with the court.

Adams pled guilty to four counts of felony forgery in late April in Island County Superior Court. While apologetic, he did not explain why he forged the documents and signatures — the earliest dating back to October 2003, according to court records.

City officials said no cases from Langley were affected.

The city of Langley has since hired a new public defender, Mimi Buescher, a Coupeville attorney. She will defend people who qualify for public defense when they are charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanors in municipal court.

The city will pay her $300 per case, a slightly higher rate than her predecessor.

Michaela Marx Wheatley can be reached at 221-5300 or mmarxwheatley@south

whidbey.com